Railway-coupling.



W. T. VAN DORN1 RAILWAY, COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIO. 1909.

1,121,692. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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RAILWAY vCOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1909.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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W. T. VAN DORN.

RAILWAY COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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RAILWAY-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. VAN DORN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Couplers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

With the recent very great extension of inter-urban electric lines, (many of which are engaged in inter-state commerce) the necessity has arisen for bringing the draft equipment of the rolling stock for such roads into conformity with the Federal law. In consequence, and furthermore because of the necessity sometimes arising for such roads to handle cars taken from steam roads, it

follows that some type of M. C. B. coupler or at least a coupler or drawhead capable of coupling with the M. C. B. drawheads used on steam roads be employed. When employed on such roads, however, the conditions are quite different than when employed on steam roads for the reason that as such interurban or electric roads usually contain many more and much shorter curves than steam roads, it has become the practice (and may be considered a necessity for the draft gear of such cars as are used in interurban service) to provide for considerable lateral movement of the drawhead to enable the cars to pass around such curves. i

With steam roads, the conditions, though different, are sufliciently similar to .frequently cause breakage of drawheads or knuckles on curves. It therefore follows that whatsoever type of drawhead is employed for interurban service, the drawheadsshbuld-engage so rigidly together as to afford but little lateral movement of one drawhead relatively the other "when cou- ,pled,'and' also to so rigidly engage together as to enabl'the draft gear of. e drawheads of the'twocoupled cars to remain substantially inalinement (if both are free to 4 swing or aria tythemselves to the curves in the-track.- ere thisis not thecase', breakage 0f partsiis I almost inevitable and consequent"danger,' loss and delay. 7

Afurther'objection'to drawheads and cone plers as' -lferetofore constructed'is thate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22:, 1914.,

Application filed May 10, 1909. Serial No'. 495,039.

knuckles are permitted to continually move laterally of each other when coupled causing excessive wear at the ends thereof and also the continual friction between the meeting faces of the knuckles causes excessive grinding of the knuckles providing in a short time much lost motion which increases the grinding action on the knuckles in proportion to the lost motion. Furthermore, when the knuckles have relative lateral movement it often occurs that'the knuckles are engaged only at the ends or at the maximum distance from the fulcrum point with the result that instead of exerting the pulling strain in a direct line with the drawbars, a great strain is exerted on the knuckles causing breakage thereof. This is due to the fact that when the knuckles engageonly at the tips or ends a much greater leverage is obtained and consequently an enormous strain is brought on the pivot for the knuckles and the knuckles themselves. Another objection to drawheadsand couplers heretofore constructed is that the abutting faces of the drawheads by the continual relative movement causes excessive wear when the 'drawheads are'iirst used, until the faces are-worn smooth, and after that the wear does not'seemto be noticeable. However in wearing the faces smooth considerable play or lost motion is provided .Which heretofore could not be compensated for and rendered the drawheads and couplers permanently unsatisfactory. j

It is an important object of this invention to provide guides and locking faces ormembers on'the drawheads by meansof which the knuckles are guided and automatically forced together and locked when completely coupled so that not the "slightest relative movement can occur between the knuckles andthereby preventing wear on the meeting faces" f the knucklesand uneven wear on also to provide a construction adapted for use on interurban roads but adapted also to couple with standard M. C. B. draft gear used on steam roads without the necessity of change, addition or removal of parts.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction which, when used for interurban service, insures the draft gears at all times remaining in alin ement while permitting the cars to follow readily about any curves that may exist in the road and without bringing any strain upon the draft gear because of such curvatures.

Itv is also an object of the invention to afford a construction in which the wear in any part of the drawhead may be quickly taken up and in which wear 'is to a large extent obviated.

. The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of two drawheads embodying my invention, showing the same coupled. Fig. is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the drawheads in the act of coupling. Fig. 4 is a similar view with parts in section showing the drawheads coupled. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken at the knuckle pivot pin, but showing the lat- 1 10, are slight modifications ter in elevation. Fig. 6 is anflenlarged top plan. view of the knuckle. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of the tail of. the knuckle showing the reinforcement thereon against wear. Figs. 8, 9 and tion shown in Fig. 2.

As shown inthe drawings: 1, indicates the drawhead, which in the'present instance is shown for convenience in connection with a draft gear 2, of a familiar type, and such bolster of the car to carry the draft to the center of support. When so used, the drawead and outer end of the radius bar slide laterally on a carrying iron 4. The drawhead, as shown, is of the M. C. B. type and is provided with a pivotall su ported knuckle 5, as is usual, the tai 6 0 which extends into the drawhead and is adapted of the constructo be engaged and locked by a locking pin or bolt 7, any of the well known constructions for this purpose may be made to an- Extending laterally from the drawhead and integral therewith and at the back of the knuckle is an extension 8, affording a recessed seat, the back of which is substantially at a right angle with the longitudinal axis of the draft gear and in the back of which is removably secured a filling plate 9, by means of rivets, bolts or any suitable attaching means. As shown, the extension 8, extends above and below the drawhead proper and is provided at its top and at its bottom with flanged top and bottom walls 10 and 11, as shown 1n Fi s. 2 and 5. As shown, the top wall or angelO, presents a flat face on its under side while the bottom flange is inclined slightly or is flat for a short distance from the web 8, and is then inclined downwardly to act as a guide should it be necessary. Of course, it is to be distinctly understood that both the top and bottom flanges may be directed at right angles with the web or wall 8, as

The opposite side or jaw of the drawhead is extended to afford a projection 12, adapted to fit into the recess on the complemental drawhead, as shown in Fig. 4, and as shown, is provided also with a plate 13, removably but rigidly secured thereto by screws, bolts, rivets or. otherwise, said plate 13, bearing firmly against'the plate 9, when the -drawheads are coupled in the recess in the extension 8.

Integral with each drawhead is a curved guiding and locking plate, flange or exten-' sion 20, against which the projection 12, engages in coupling which gradually, forces the knuckles together and when the drawheads are cou led lock the knuckles from relative lateral or transverse movement.

The knuckle 5, is shaped as is usual with knuckles of the class described and ,on the tail 6, thereof is fitted a plate or shell 14, of steel, which is riveted thereto and which engages behind the locking pin 15, as shown in Fig. 5, in coupling.

In the construction shown I have for convenience illustrated a simple form of automatic cou ler in which a substantially rectangular ocln'ng pin is provided with a recess therein at a point normally below the knuckle but which, when the locking pin is elevated, permits the knuckle to swing clear and also 1n which said lockin pin 1s provided at the upper side of sai recess. with an inclined face 16, so that in coupling the tail of the knuckle enga es beneath the same to lift the pin. I have a shown a lever 17,

the Coupler bracket 18, at the lower side of and one arm 19, of which exthe end of the locking bolt or pivoted on a tends beneath pin so that When the lever 17 is drawn outthe arm 19, acts to lift the locking the lmuckle to thus uncoupling wardly pin sufliciently. to permit swing to open position, the drawheads.

The operation is as follows: The drawheads having been fitted with plates both on the projections 12, and on the extensions 8, and preferably also upon the tail of the knuckle, as before described, are adjusted so that when in coupled relation there is practically no lost motion, said interfitting projections onthe sides of the drawheads affording together with the engaging lmuckles 5, substantially alined engaging points, the center of which or the knuckles serve only'for traction while the laterally engaging faces serve for bufiing and also holding the draft gears of the cars when coupled in strict alinement, although owing to the vertical length of the extension 8, as compared with the narrow projection 12, as shown in Fig. 2, great amplitude of relative vertical movement is permitted. Furthermore, where such draft gears are carried upon radius bars as frequently. occurs, the extending point of the jaw and the complemental recesses in the lateral projection on the complemental head serve to bring said drawheads in alinement when the drawheads are brought together in this way facilitating coupling and when once coupled, affording a very positive and rigid connection. Obviously, such drawheads couple readily with any drawhead of the M. C. B. type. The prior existing types of such drawheads lacking such lateral projections couple readily, and when coupled, may be operated as heretofore.

Wear will not occur until after a considerif then, inasmuch as all wearing surfaces are hardened steel. When wear does occur, however, the'wear plates may be replaced with thicker ones or released and a thin filler plate or sheet of metal may be inserted behind the same, in this way enabling. the operator at a very trifling expense in time and trouble, to maintain the draft gear at maximum efficiency so far as wear is concerned, for long able period of use,

It is further seen that coupled, owing to the projections bearing against the inner ends of the guide and locking members 20, that the knuckles are locked from relative lateral periods of time. when the knuckles are vor transverse movement and friction and ing bolt only for convenience of illustration. I am aware also that other means may be employed to insure the rigid alinement of the draft gear to couple the cars without departing from the principles of this invention and I have attempted to show but one of several possible constructions, I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent to be issued upon this application otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drawhead of the class described embracing in connection with the pivoted knuckle, a projection on one side of the drawhead and a recess on the opposite s1de of the drawhead formed by an inner curved guide wall located to the rear of said knuckle and integral with said draw head, upper and lower walls, and a fiat base wall.

2. In a device of the class described drawheads each having-a vertical recess therein formed by a curved inner side wall, an upper wall, an inclined lower wall, and a back wall having a plate removably secured thereto, and a projection integral with each drawhead of less width than the recess adapted to permit free vertical movement when the drawheads are coupled, and prevent lateral swinging of the drawheads.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of twO W. E. HANNAH, J. W. ANGELL. 

